Claimant's opinion: Went manic, and psychotic when taken totally off klonopin. Refused a call to my daughter or attorney. No one qualified to deal with my problem. They shipped me to Alternative to Med Center in Sedona,Arizona after two weeks of suffering; who is affiliated with them. They were also irresponsible to handle my problem. According to Dr. Heather Ashton of Great Btirian it takes 6 months to 3 years to TAPER off benzodiazapines. Worst method; stop " cold turkey " as they did to me, second worst a detox clinic, with massive doses of niacin and vitamins; and " Rocky " told my daughters I would not suffer let alone go manic. Was only able to see the Dr. Wooten once a week if that. Blood Pressure went to over 200 to 110 diastolic. He stated this is normal in withdrawal. He gave me no help; my hands were shaking, and couldn't feed myself. Three people died at this facility in 2011. I came very close till ATMC re-instated a half dose pf klonopin. Currently working with a Psychiatrist to get me balanced, and functional. I havn't worked for nine months and spent roughly $60,000. I was non functional for 7 months after entering Narcanon Arrowhead.

After that someone with no name posted this threat(?):

Quote

Feb 05, 2013, () added:

Be advised that state and federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), prohibit Narconon of Oklahoma, Inc. ("Narconon") from responding to any inquiry or request for information concerning any person who has applied for, participated in, or received counseling or any services provided by Narconon in its substance abuse and alcohol abuse treatment program. Any unauthorized public disclosure, dissemination or posting of such information may subject the person or entity making the disclosure, dissemination or posting to civil or criminal liability. PeopleClaim risks civil or criminal liability should it post information concerning an individual's drug or alcohol abuse treatment without first receiving a HIPAA compliant waiver or release from that individual. We understand that PeopleClaim may not ordinarily verify the "facts" stated in complaints it receives but in this instance, assuming the facts of this matter fall under the purview of applicable non-disclosure laws, PeopleClaim should consider the liability it may be exposing itself to before “publicly posting” anything.

The original poster added this:

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Feb 21, 2013, Claiming party added:

I have not heard any responses from from anyone that is continuing with the mis-representation going on at both facilities. There is no medically trained staff; only ex- illicit drug users who get free room and board for their compensation. My addiction was to a prescription medication that was prescribed by a Psychiatrist for twenty years. I wanted to lower the dose because it was affecting my short term memory; my Medical Doctor states this was the wrong method to pursue. Narconnon and ATMC do NOT know how to handle prescription meds; especially benzodiazapines. They have to be taper over long periods of time; high doses of Niacin, and vitamins, saunas, etc; will not overcome a COMPROMISED central nervous system in your brain.

My message sent to the poster:

Quote

Hi there,

Narconon is a scientology front group. They don't approve of people using psychiatric medications.

Please come tell your story on the Reaching for the Tipping Point forum, at reaching4.info We are advocates for the victims of Narconon, and you will be among people who understand and sympathize with what you went through. Some of the members may have suggestions for ways you can get a refund or some of your money back.

We would like to find out more about the affiliation with the Alternative to Med Center you mentioned. We try to stay on top of all the Narconon affiliated facilities, but I have not heard of this one yet.

There is an independent survey about Narconon there as well, which is intended to collect statistics about people who have been to Narconon.

This person does not fit into their guidelines on who can be accepted for the program. They do not qualify as they have an extensive psychatric history. They take cases like this when they are desparate for money. Unfortunately, the person time for time, does not do well. When will they learn?

This person does not fit into their guidelines on who can be accepted for the program. They do not qualify as they have an extensive psychatric history. They take cases like this when they are desparate for money. Unfortunately, the person time for time, does not do well. When will they learn?

Someone else will die due to their desperation and lack of knowledge. I think the time has passed for learning. Narconon needs to be shut down before someone else is hurt.

Logged

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.-Dalai Lama

Be advised that state and federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), prohibit Narconon of Oklahoma, Inc. ("Narconon") from responding to any inquiry or request for information concerning any person who has applied for, participated in, or received counseling or any services provided by Narconon in its substance abuse and alcohol abuse treatment program. Any unauthorized public disclosure, dissemination or posting of such information may subject the person or entity making the disclosure, dissemination or posting to civil or criminal liability. PeopleClaim risks civil or criminal liability should it post information concerning an individual's drug or alcohol abuse treatment without first receiving a HIPAA compliant waiver or release from that individual. We understand that PeopleClaim may not ordinarily verify the "facts" stated in complaints it receives but in this instance, assuming the facts of this matter fall under the purview of applicable non-disclosure laws, PeopleClaim should consider the liability it may be exposing itself to before “publicly posting” anything.

We've discussed this before, I am sure (probably in the Desmond case), but HIPAA does not apply to the individual telling their own information, or to anyone other than the medical provider - once again, Narconon is huffing and puffing and blowing smoke and they should familiarize themselves with the laws that apply what they do - ALL of the laws! and maybe people will have less to complain about.

Lyle was a former Scientologist, yes. He gets a lot of clients that are routed out of Narconon centers for not being qualified. It is purely a holistic program that serves primarily raw, organic foods, etc. I have mixed feelings about ATMC. I believe Lyle would come forward and say that Narconon and Scientology are B.S., but he gets too many clients from them to do so, and becomes more of a business decision than anything else. He might do a David Lee someday, but who knows...

Lyle was a former Scientologist, yes. He gets a lot of clients that are routed out of Narconon centers for not being qualified. It is purely a holistic program that serves primarily raw, organic foods, etc. I have mixed feelings about ATMC. I believe Lyle would come forward and say that Narconon and Scientology are B.S., but he gets too many clients from them to do so, and becomes more of a business decision than anything else. He might do a David Lee someday, but who knows...

Luke, you and I go back a ways, with the subject of ATMC popping up, before you and I corresponded and learned that you were out of Scn and Narconon networks. I was not super knowledgeable but had enough info back then to know that ATMC was still using Narconon sauna program just before they moved from CA to AZ. ATMC got busted by the CA ADP licensing division and were not given zoning OK to operate in the place where they were because of the illegal sauna in the basement.

There were also some complaints filed with the city about pATMC patients running away. The business he's in, to me, seems quite dangerous if one does not know what they are doing. He has had physicians on staff, I believe but I wonder if it's like how NN says they have physicians available.Is Lyle actually doing the wind down of meds on these people with medical direction and supervision?

Lyle, himself, was an illegal PC and was very involved with a program run by former Narconon Nor Cal ED, Richard Prescott, at the San Francisco based unlicensed Social Betterment Development Company aka New Life Center San Francisco / SF. It was a Narconon / Criminon program run out of hotel rooms. After multiple lawsuits and a death, Lyle went out on his own with ATMC, first in SF and then to AZ.

I have no doubts about him no being a scientologist but I wonder regarding his use of sauna and vit's, Clear Body Clear Mind and his agreements with Narconon.

Here is some older stuff that came up in the comments of my blog that may be of interest

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Saturday, May 02, 2009 Anonymous said...

Dear Formerly Fooled:

Maybe you can clear up something for others and myself. Is the following a front group for Scientology?

Thanks *********************************** FYI, the owner deleted the blog but I recall something about a drive for donations to help a mentally ill woman attend ATMC. Yes, Alternative To Meds Center is a Scientology front group, in that it uses 2 key programs used in Scientology front groups Narconon and Criminon, both licensed through Scientology's secular arm, Association For Better Living and Education, Inc. ( ABLE, Inc )

ATMC uses the sauna detox program and the Life Skills texts and classes of the Narconon Program aka The New Life Detox program aka the Purification Program. To do so, they pay license fees to ABLE, Int. Previous to their current location, Lyle Murphy worked alongside and with Richard Prescott and Jim Steiner ( both Scientologists) at New Life Center San Francisco aka Social Betterment Development Company aka SBDC New Life SF. Lyle Murphy is probably NOT a scientologist by virtue of his stated past psychiatric history. He's what scientology calls " an Illegal PC " a victim of the "evil psychs". For this reason, he's certainly a member of CCHR, scientology's anti-psych front group.

Perhaps he's making amends to Scientology by helping other people he feels are victims of psychiatry.

I am a volunteer advocate for victims of the Narconon scam. I am a former scientologist. I post anonymously. Mary McConnell is my long time nom de plume. Feel free to contact me for assistance in righting the wrongs.

Luke, you and I go back a ways, with the subject of ATMC popping up, before you and I corresponded and learned that you were out of Scn and Narconon networks. I was not super knowledgeable but had enough info back then to know that ATMC was still using Narconon sauna program just before they moved from CA to AZ. ATMC got busted by the CA ADP licensing division and were not given zoning OK to operate in the place where they were because of the illegal sauna in the basement.

There were also some complaints filed with the city about pATMC patients running away. The business he's in, to me, seems quite dangerous if one does not know what they are doing. He has had physicians on staff, I believe but I wonder if it's like how NN says they have physicians available.Is Lyle actually doing the wind down of meds on these people with medical direction and supervision?

Lyle, himself, was an illegal PC and was very involved with a program run by former Narconon Nor Cal ED, Richard Prescott, at the San Francisco based unlicensed Social Betterment Development Company aka New Life Center San Francisco / SF. It was a Narconon / Criminon program run out of hotel rooms. After multiple lawsuits and a death, Lyle went out on his own with ATMC, first in SF and then to AZ.

I have no doubts about him no being a scientologist but I wonder regarding his use of sauna and vit's, Clear Body Clear Mind and his agreements with Narconon.

Here is some older stuff that came up in the comments of my blog that may be of interest

Thanks for this. I don't know exactly how involved their doctor is or how long the weaning period is for the medications, though I'm sure it varies. They also do not do a Clear Body Clear Mind sauna program at all and are not licensed by ABLE. I personally called ABLE and verified that with them and visited the facility in AZ a couple years ago. I think they have continued to veer away from Hubbard-related stuff and only maintain friendly relations for the client transfers since that is their bread and butter.

I'm not promoting or defending them, just stating what I personally observed. Since it was nearly two years ago, I don't know what it's like today though.

Luke, you and I go back a ways, with the subject of ATMC popping up, before you and I corresponded and learned that you were out of Scn and Narconon networks. I was not super knowledgeable but had enough info back then to know that ATMC was still using Narconon sauna program just before they moved from CA to AZ. ATMC got busted by the CA ADP licensing division and were not given zoning OK to operate in the place where they were because of the illegal sauna in the basement.

There were also some complaints filed with the city about pATMC patients running away. The business he's in, to me, seems quite dangerous if one does not know what they are doing. He has had physicians on staff, I believe but I wonder if it's like how NN says they have physicians available.Is Lyle actually doing the wind down of meds on these people with medical direction and supervision?

Lyle, himself, was an illegal PC and was very involved with a program run by former Narconon Nor Cal ED, Richard Prescott, at the San Francisco based unlicensed Social Betterment Development Company aka New Life Center San Francisco / SF. It was a Narconon / Criminon program run out of hotel rooms. After multiple lawsuits and a death, Lyle went out on his own with ATMC, first in SF and then to AZ.

I have no doubts about him no being a scientologist but I wonder regarding his use of sauna and vit's, Clear Body Clear Mind and his agreements with Narconon.

Here is some older stuff that came up in the comments of my blog that may be of interest

Thanks for this. I don't know exactly how involved their doctor is or how long the weaning period is for the medications, though I'm sure it varies. They also do not do a Clear Body Clear Mind sauna program at all and are not licensed by ABLE. I personally called ABLE and verified that with them and visited the facility in AZ a couple years ago. I think they have continued to veer away from Hubbard-related stuff and only maintain friendly relations for the client transfers since that is their bread and butter.

I'm not promoting or defending them, just stating what I personally observed. Since it was nearly two years ago, I don't know what it's like today though.

Thanks on the info about checking with ABLE and about them not using Clear Body Clear mind.

On the above bolded statement:So they were or may still be getting transfers from Narconon, of non-qualified people or people needing medical detox off psych drugs first before Narconon program?

Logged

I am a volunteer advocate for victims of the Narconon scam. I am a former scientologist. I post anonymously. Mary McConnell is my long time nom de plume. Feel free to contact me for assistance in righting the wrongs.

There is Joe and Claire Pinelli's "Detox Institute" also that says it can get you off your meds. Their site seems to be down though. I dont know, maybe they got the message and are changing their line of BS on it

I don't think that Foundation is used much. But, as an aside for the readers, Narconon programs usually send Alternative To Meds referrals of any people the registrar deems as unqualified for the Narconon program due to either current or previous heavy history of psychiatric treatment. ATM pays kickbacks for these referrals.

I am a volunteer advocate for victims of the Narconon scam. I am a former scientologist. I post anonymously. Mary McConnell is my long time nom de plume. Feel free to contact me for assistance in righting the wrongs.